William c



(No Model.)

W. o. SPELMAN. GAR STEP. 110. 119,929. 129161119119911. 14, 1999.

Y m L !LLIE? N. PETERS. Phmuumogmphm. wningmn, n. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM C. SPELMAN, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE NET YORK STEEL lV AT COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,229, dated January 14, 1890.

Application filed October 30, 1889.

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM C. SPELMAN, a resident of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Oar- Steps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the same.

My invention relates to an improved conio struction of steps for tram or horse cars or the like; and it consists of a removable frame containing a metallic mat which may be inserted in the bearings of the removable frame. The object ot' my invention is to provide a tread for car-steps which may be .removable in all its parts at pleasure from the walls or supports.

My invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view ot' one end of a tram-car, showing the car-step partially sectional. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the frame containing the open-work metallic mat, with a portion of said mat removed. Fig. 3 is a c rosssectional view through the -line c 0, Fig. 2.

Fig. a is a detailed cross-sectional vlewof the support, frame, and mat through the line k k, Fig. 2 and Fig is a plan View of the removable frame, but without the mat, on the line 3o c C', Fi. 4.

A A are the walls or supports ot the carstep.

Bis the removable frame holding the openwork metallic mat C, composing the tread.

3 5 R are bolts for securing the frame B to the walls or supports A, and S are bolts for securing the metallic mat to the frame B.

The side walls A A are really hangers, shaped substantially as shown in the draw- 40 ings, each having a transverse ledge a on lts inner lower part. This ledge a is adapted to support the frame B, which is shaped at its ends to iit snugly upon said ledges a. The frame B has also an inner ledge b', which supports the metallic mat O, composing the tread. The frame B is an open frame of metal or Serial No, 328,632. (No model.)

other suitable material, and for additional security it is preferable to bolt or rivet this frame to the ledges a in such a manner that it can be removed when worn out or broken. The 5o metallic mat C may be bolted or riveted to the frame B in a similar manner, and a strip of met-al G may serve to retain the rivetheads that hold the mat within the frame.

In car-steps as now made the tread by constant use is worn smooth and thin and the steps rendered slippery and after continuons use easily broken. In my improved step the metallic mat forming the tread aiTords a firm and secure hold for the feet, and the framein 6o which it is held, being adapted to be removed from the walls or supports of the step, can be replaced at slight expense when worn smooth at the exposed outer edge. The metallic mat may be what is knownns the Rochester 6 3 mat, formed of crossbars of thin metal, allowing the dirt, ice, snow, or dbris to fall through its perforations. It is obvious that any suitable construction of the supports, removable frame, and metallic tread may be 7o used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I desire to emphasize the fact that in my step the frame B is liable to be worn out before the mat proper is worn, and that for this reason I place a removable mat upon a removable frame to enable the frame to be replaced.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. A carstep consisting of hangers A, removable open frame B, and removable openwork mat C, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A car-step consisting of hangers A,-hav ing ledges a, removable frame B, having ledges 8 5 l), and removable metallic mat inserted in said frame, as and for the purposes set forth. Y,

WILLIAM C. SPELMAN. Witnesses:

HARRY M. TURK, FREDERIC BONN. 

